A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty, Part 6 · Section 3
III. A third ſort of evidence for Confirmation, are certain Arguments or Reaſons why the Saints muſt needs Perſevere in Faith and Holineſs.
By this word [Needs muſt] I do not underſtand any other kind of neceſſity, than well conſiſts with perfect freedom; ſuch a Neceſſity as was upon Paul to preach the Goſpel; which was a work he rejoyced in: ſuch as was upon Jeſus Chriſt to bring-home his ſheep; and to lay down his life for them:Luke 12. 50. How was He ſtreightned till it was accompliſhed! That it was written in his heart was no hindrance to the freedom of his will: The expreſſion is well warranted alſo where it is ſaid, That the Scripture (ſpeaking of Judas his fact) muſt needs be fulfilled, Acts 1. 16.
The firſt Argument,Arg. I. John 1. 13.in proof of Perſeverance, is founded on the Saints Extract or Original; They are born of God: And this hath the force of a double Argument.
1. As God is their Father and Eternal Root: Our Saviour holds forth this Relation, as the ground of our Faith in prayer, Math. 6. 9. And He begins with it Himſelf, when He prayes for His own Glory, and that His Diſciples might be partakers of it, John 17. 1. To the ſame end, He frequently uſeth that ſtyle of Father, in the Goſpel of John; as in particular, That He aſcends to His Father, and our Father, John 20. 17. It is to ſtrengthen our Faith in God (thro' Himſelf) on the account of His Fatherhood to us. The Father loveth the Son, John 3. 35. And, He loves His Believers, as He loveth Chriſt Himſelf, Iohn 17. 23. On which ground the Apoſtle concludes, That He cannot but give us all things elſe, Rom. 8. 32. Believers are, (in truth) the product of His love, both in reſpect of Election and Regeneration; and being ſo, He cannot but have a paternal affection for them; to adminiſter to them, what-ever tends to their ſuſtentation and growth; and to keep-off what ever would intercept or weaken His gracious influences towards them: Having once loved them, John 13. 1.He loves them for ever. They may therefore be confident, That what He hath begun in the Spirit, He will not let end in the fleſh: That having begun a good work in them, Phil. 1. 6.He will alſo perform it: For, As they have their ſpiritual Being from Him, as the Father of it; ſo 'tis Natural to Him to derive his virtues into them without intermiſſion, as for a Vine to ſend up its ſap into its own branches, or the Sun to cheriſh the plants of its own production. All the natural affections that are in Creatures towards their own, are but drops of His Immenſe fullneſs: A Mother may poſſibly forget the Child of her Womb; but, the Lord cannot forget His Off-ſpring: That none may hurt, them, (nor they themſelves) He will keep them night and day, Iſaiah 27. 3. chap. 46. 3, 4.and water them every moment. They are born by Him from the Belly, and carried from the Womb; and even to their old age He will carry them and deliver them.
2. The new Creature, as it comes from God; ſo, it exiſts in Him, and lives upon Him; and it is Natural to it, to ſeek its nouriſhment where it had its Original: Nothing can ſatisfie it, but that great Deep from whence it ſprang; As a New-born child (that has not the uſe of Reaſon) will hunt for the breaſt by natural inſtinct, and not be qulet without it: As ſoon as ever Paul was converted, Behold he prayes, Acts 9. 11. Having once received the Spirit of Chriſt, they cannot but incline after Him, (as Eliſha did Elijah upon the caſting of his Mantle on him:) It is natural to them,1 K. 19. 19, 20. as for ſparks to fly upwards: They are ſaid To be baptized with fire; Not onelyonly, becauſe of the purifying Nature of fire; but in reſpect of its Aſpiring quality; it will be Mounting, and not reſt till it come to its own element. Obſtructions many it meets withall, but ſtill it preſſeth onwards, and by degrees bears-down all afore it, and carries that with it in which it dwells, to the place of its birth; As the Dove could not Reſt, till ſhe came to the Ark, whence ſhe ſet-out? This is lively ſet forth by our Saviour in John 7. 38. He that believeth in Me, out of his belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Waters: [Rivers] that bear down all oppoſition: and Rivers of [living] Waters; not Landflouds, which are but of ſhort continuance; or ſtanding Pools, ſubject to drying up: But ſuch Rivers as have an-Immortal Head.
We ſee how All things tend to their Center; Prov. 4. 16.The wicked ſleep not unleſs they do evil; They can bear the want of things moſt neceſſary to their being, rather than ceaſe from ſin:John 8. 44. Acts 1. 25.They are of the Serpents brood, and the luſts of their Father they will do: Judas was a Devil, and that carried him headlong to his own place. And if being born of the Devil, habituates men with ſo ſtrong and reſtleſs a bent to Deviliſh luſts; the Divine Nature muſt needs work as efficaciouſly towards God, and Godlike Actions. And if it were not ſo, the Divine Nature had never born an humane ſtock to Heaven: The firſt fruits of the Spirit poſſeſs them with an earneſt expectation and longing for the harveſt.Rom. 8. 23.
There are, indeed, Remainders of the Old Man, which will ſtill be oppoſing the New; and many conteſts there are between them: But Grace (like him that is Advocate for the King) will ever have the laſt word, and will alſo go out victor: ye may ſee it in Jeremy; The word of the Lord was made a Reproach to him; He therefore reſolves to ſtifle it, and will no more ſpeak in His Name: But, how ſucceds this carnal reſolution? The word of the Lord was in his heart, as fire ſhut up in his bones: Jer. 20. 8, 9.He was weary of forbearing, He could not hold. And Jonah, When he thought himſelf cut-off, Jonah 2. 2, 3.and in the belly of hell; (yet (ſaith he, yet) will I look again towards thy holy Temple: As the Needle that is rightly touch'd,Pſ. 84. 7. never Reſts but in pointing towards the Pole:) and when obſtructed in their Courſe,Pſ. 42. 7. they cry the more earneſtly, Oh, when ſhall I come and appear before God!
II. Another Argument is taken from the Graces themſelves which are the ſubject of Perſeverance,Arg. II. viz. Faith and Holineſs; Which let us conſider, firſt, as They are a Gift; Then, in the Genuine uſe and property of them.
1. As they are a Gift; They are of thoſe, good and perfect Gifts which come down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no Variableneſs, James 1. 17.nor ſhaddow of Turning. This Attribute of God's Ʋnchangeableneſs, is fitly and ſignificantly added, to ſhew, That as good and perfect gifts only, are from God, and from Him onelyonly; ſo, That He never Changeth in His Purpoſe concerning thoſe to whom He once gives them: They are of thoſe Gifts that are without Repentance. As alſo, That theſe His Gifts do partake of His own unvariableneſs; They cannot dye, nor turn to be any other than what they are at firſt, ſave only in point of Perfection: There can happen no after-unworthineſs in thoſe He gives them to, which He did not foreſee when He gave them; (which ſeems to be implied in the following words,v. 18. [Of His Own Will begate He us:] and ſo, no cauſe why He ſhould with-draw them, which ſhould not aſwell have hindred His giving them at firſt. As the word of God is not Yea and Nay; 2 Cor. 1. 19.ſo neither are His Gifts. They are alſo God's Workmanſhip; And we know, (ſaith Solomon) That whatſoever God doth, Eccleſ. 3, 14.it ſhall be for ever; Nothing can be added to it, Nor anything taken from it.
2. Let Faith and Holineſs be conſidered in the Genuine uſe and Property of them. Nothing ſo endangers the Soul, as ſelf-fullneſs; Faith (therefore) was ordained to empty out ſelf, and devolve the ſoul on Another, (viz. Chriſt) which the more it does, the ſafer it is; And having once done it, it never undoes it agen. Faith (alſo) is an Active Grace, and diligent;Luke 19. 26. Math. 13. 10. and therefore thriving: He that hath it, ſhall have more of it; (Then ſure he ſhall not loſe that he hath:) It is alwayes Travelling, and never tyred; 1. Becauſe it travels in the ſtrength of Omnipotency: and 2. Becauſe it works by love; Which is the moſt kindly and efficacious Principle of ſervice and great Acts. Love is an Endleſs skrew; It has truly attain'd the perpetual Motion; It enables to endure all things and faileth not, 1 Cor 13. 7, 8. All that God doth for His people is from love, John 3. 16. and all that they do for God, growes from the ſame Root; They love Him, [becauſe] He loved them, firſt; 1 John 4. 19. Love is That which renders a Work both pleaſant to the Agent, and acceptable to the Object of it. Faith (therefore) working by love, ſhall never be weary of its work, nor fail of its end;Rom. 4. 16. It is of Faith, That it might be ſure.
And as for Holineſs, (which is a diſpoſition according to God, and capacitates for the bleſſed Viſion) a little of it in Truth,Math. 12. 20. is of infinite worth; The very ſmoak of it ſhall not be quenched: And it would be ſtrange, if a thing ſo precious ſhould be lyable to putrifaction: But it is not; yea, it changeth other things, but is it ſelf never changed: It is of a ſpreading nature; compared therefore to leaven, which is put into the Soul and hid there, till the whole lump be ſeaſoned: It is of an aſſimilating property; there is an Heavenly Tincture in it, which ſanctifies all that it toucheth; To the pure all things are pure. It alſo meetens for Converſe with God; and it drawes and ingageth the Soul to Him; There it is as in its proper Element, and out of which it cannot live: And, by this Converſe it is both increaſed and ſublimated.
A Natural Body once in being, can never be reduced to Nothing: How then ſhould Things of Divine ſubſtance? They are Born of incorruptible ſeed, which liveth and abideth for ever: And as the ſeed is, ſuch will be the fruit; The Older it grows, the firmer it is; He that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger: They are the Holy Seed, And therefore, tho they caſt their leaves (at times) yet their ſubſtance is in them, By which they are ſtill renewed.
To all which might be added, that Notion alſo in Romans 8. 30. which inferreth, That to be ſanctified, is all one as to be glorified: Holineſs is the ſeed of Glory; and holy perſons are in Glory; (viz. as to its kind, and the certainty of their obtainment;) although (indeed) it hath no glory at preſent, in compariſon of that which ſhall be; as the ſeed of a Roſe or Lilly, compared with the flowers they will grow into; and which are virtually in them. According with this, is that of our Saviour,John 3. 36. Pſ. 37. 31. He that believeth [hath] everlaſting life: It argues the certainty of their Perſeverance; The law of his God is in his heart: None of his ſteps ſhall ſlide: Iſa. 65. 8.And therefore he ſaith, Deſtroy it Not, there is a bleſſing in it.
III. Another proof riſes from the Nature, Arg. III.extent, and deſign, of Providence; or from the Intent and Purpoſe of God, in that great variety of things which believers are exerciſed with in the world. There are three things conſiderable, to make out this Argument;
1. That there is a Divine Providence which Governs the World: As in dividing to the Nations their inheritance, and bounding their habitations, at firſt; ſo, by continuing them in poſſeſſion, or Outing them, at his pleaſure; and this (oftentimes) by very unlikely means, and over-ruling things accordingly: Seir being given to Eſau, and Ar to the Children of Lot; and their term not being yet expired; the Lord inclines them to let Iſrael paſs thorow, and to give them meat for their money: whereas the Amorites, who were deſtinied to deſtruction, He hardens their ſpirits and makes them obſtinate; that they deny them paſſage, and come out againſt them in battel.Deut. 2. 29, 30. So, when he would tranſlate the Chaldean Monarchy to the Perſians; He enfeebles the one,Jer. 51. 11. Iſa. 45. 1▪5.but ſtirrs up the Others ſpirits, and Girds them with ſtrength. How oft doth the Scripture repeat, That the Lord reigneth, Pſ. 93. 1. 97. 1. 75. 7.That He puts down One and ſets up another, That He doth according to His Will in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the earth? Dan. 4, 35.How evident is it in his humbling of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and others! This Providence reacheth to all manner of Perſons, times, and things; and Circumſcribes them: It leaves not the leaſt thing to a Contingency; Even Ravens, Sparrows, and Lillies, yea, and the hairs of your head are all numbred and under the Conduct of the Providence of God, Matth. 6. 26.
2. That the deſign and courſe of God's Providence, Eezk. 24. 25.is to accompliſh His Purpoſe. As Providence governs the World; ſo Purpoſe is the Director of Providence. He is a Provident Man that orders his affairs prudently: i. e. ſo that nothing is wanting, nor any thing ſpent in waſte. Both theſe are in the Providence of God eminently: for 1. It is All-ſufficient; ſupplies all needs; Gives all things pertaining to Means and End: 2. It does Nothing in vain, Nothing ſuperfluous or impertinent to His Purpoſe. Things moſt caſual to Men, are levelled at a ſet and Certain End: What the Lord ſpeaks with His Mouth, He fullfills with His Hand, 1 Kings 8. 24. and His Act ſhall not vary a tittle from His Decree, which is clearly the meaning of that in the Acts, Known unto God are all His Works from the beginning of the world. Whence was it, that Eſau tarried ſo long at his hunting, that he was overfainted? That Jacob was making pottage juſt when Eſau comes home, which ſet his appetite on edge after it? But, that the Purpoſe of God according to Election might ſtand: The Elder muſt ſerve the younger; which now came-to-paſs by the ſale of his birthright. And thus the Providence of God makes even the prophaneſs of Men, ſubſerve to His End. The Lord had determined to caſt Judah and Jeruſalem out of His ſight, for their obſtinacy: And to this end (that is, To make way for it) it came-to-paſs, 2 King 24. 20.that Zedekiah rebelled againſt the King of Babylon: It was to fullfill the word of the Lord declared in the 2 Chron. 36. 21. (tho that was farr from the Rebellers intent.) So He gave Cyrus all the Kingdoms of the Earth, that he might build His Temple at Jeruſalem; and it was to fullfill His Purpoſe before recorded by Jeremy the Prophet; as ver. 22. & 23. In like manner, Herod, Pilate, and the Jews, they all conſpire the death of Chriſt, and each party on a ſeveral account; not thinking (in the leaſt,) to fulfil the determinate Counſell of God; yet, That was it, which Providence intended, in permitting the Thing to be done; as is plain, by Acts 2. 23. As alſo, the Soldiers, in parting His garments and piercing His ſide; It was their barbarous rudeneſs which put them upon it; But, Providence deſigned to make-good a Prophecy, Theſe things [therefore] the Soldiers did, John, 19. 24. All that God doth in the World, is the Tranſcript, or Impreſſion, of His Decrees.
3. That the Providence of God never fails of Its End: Our God is in Heaven, and doth whatſoever He will. Pſ. 115. 3.He will Work, and who ſhall let it? And what will He work? The things that are coming and ſhall come: Iſa. 44. 7.He hath both deviſed and done it, Jer. 51. 12. His Purpoſe is, To preſerve His People,Iſa. 54. 17. and therefore, No Weapon that is formed againſt them ſhall proſper: Whoſoever gathers together againſt them ſhall fall for their ſake, Iſa. 54. 15. And, As He hath purpoſed, ſo ſhall it ſtand; Chap. 14. 24. The Scriptures abound with inſtances to prove it. As on the Contrary, When the Lord will execute Judgment, it ſhall be performed, albeit the Means be never ſo weak and improbable; Tho' the Army of the Chaldeans were all wounded men, yet ſhall they burn Jeruſalem with fire, Judges 3. 31. ch. 15. 15.Jer. 37. 10. SHAMGAR ſhall kill ſix hundred Men with an Ox-goad; and SAMPSON, a Thouſand with the Jaw-bone of an Aſs. Theſe things conſidered and laid together, (though chiefly referring to Temporal things) doe ſtrongly inforce the Argument, for things of ſpiritual Concernment: Inaſmuch as things of Eternal Moment are worthy of more peculiar regard and ſecurity.
Now, All a Believer's exerciſes (which may ſeem to endanger him) are either from the guilt of ſins committed; From the power of indwelling corruption; From Satan's temptations; or Perſecution from the World: None of which come on them accidentally, but as things fore-appointed of God, and for a good intent. It is for the Elects ſake that all things elſe have their being, 2 Cor. 4. 15. And are all cauſed to work together for their good, Rom. 8. 28. As (namely) to humble them for ſin; To wean them from the World; To indear JESƲS CHRIST to them; To ſhew them the uſefulneſs of Ordinances; To exerciſe and try their Graces; To purge out their droſs; To enable them to ſuccour others; To demonſtrate the Wiſdom, Power, and Faithfulneſs of God towards them; To meeten them for Heaven; And to make them groan and long to be clothed upon with their houſe from thence; As might plentifully be made out by the Scriptures, and the viſible effects thereof upon thoſe who have been exerciſed thereby. To inſtance a few particulars: David, after that great miſcarriage in the matter of Ʋriah, with his broken bones upon it; walked the more humbly and warily all his dayes: He was alſo the more intent on that great duty of Teaching ſinners the way of God. Pſal. 51. 13.Peter, he alſo got ground by denying his Maſter; Thereby he came to ſee his own weakneſs, the need he had of Chriſt's ſupport, and continuall prayer for him; and we hear no more of his carnal confidence, after that: But, What a clamour and out-cry does he make againſt our adverſary the Devil!1 Pet. 5. 8. to warn others (by his own example) what danger they are in: And doubtleſs, what the Tempter got by Peter's fall, he loſt the double of it by the after-watchfulneſs of Others; For that's the deſigned end,Luke 2…. 32. viz. To ſtrengthen, ſtabliſh, ſettle them, ver. 10. Paul had a Meſſenger of Satan let looſs upon him, to buffet him: The end of which was to humble him, and To ſhew him the ſufficiency of the Grace of Chriſt. 'Tis likely alſo, That he got as much by that thorn in his fleſh, as by his Rapture and Revelations: To be ſure, they did well together, and poized him the better for his work.Job. 23. 10 with ch. 40. 4. & ch. 42. 6. The like effect upon Job. Mary Magdalen the remembrance of the ſeven devils that once poſſeſs'd her, and of that love which caſt them out; How did it heighten her love to Chriſt, and keep her heart in a melting frame! She loved much, becauſe much was forgiven her. The People's fourty years travel thro' that great and terrible wilderneſs,Deut. 8. 15, 16. among fiery Serpents and ſcorpions; It was To prove them, and to doe them good in the latter end: They were alſo ſent into captivity for their good: Jer. 24. 5.Iſa. 27. 9.This was all the fruit intended, To take away their ſin; and to make them partakers of His holineſs.Heb. 12. 10.
I grant, (indeed) Theſe things are Phyſick, which Nature deſires not: Yet let me ſay, They are as needfull in their ſeaſon as our food; and in very Faithfullneſs we muſt have them: which alſo appears by the ſcope of the new Covenant; (Of which more afterwards.)
Upon all which, It is ſafely inferred, That all theſe things worketh God with Man; Not to deſtroy him, but To bring-back his ſoul from the pit, Job 33. 29. & 30. They are all made to turn to their Salvation: They have alwaies triumphed over them, Rom. 8. 37.and been more than Conquerors, through Him that loved them.
And if this be the fruit and Reſult of all that doth or can befall a Believer, whiles in this World: (and ther's no more of evil or danger when this is done) then welcom let them be, as another Demonſtration of their INVINCIBLE PERSEVERANCE. Pſ. 107. 43.Who ſo is wiſe, and will obſerve theſe things; even they ſhall underſtand the loving-kindneſs of the Lord.
IV. A fourth Argument for the Saints Perſeverance,Arg. IV. is built on their Union with Chriſt; Which is of that Intimateneſs, that the Scripture ſets it forth by terms of neareſt Relation; as Foundation and Building, Vine and Branches, Father and Children, Husband and Spouſe, Head and Members; Yea, They are both called (interchangeably) by the ſame Name; He is called Jacob, Pſal. 24. 6. And they are called Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12. 12. And (which is more, if more can be) He communicates to them that title which one would think Incommunicable, viz. The Lord our Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. with chap. 33. 16. And this Union is ſuch as can never be broken; It is no more poſſible, than for the Union which is between God and Chriſt to be diſſolv'd: For, the ſame Oneneſs (for kinde) is between Chriſt and them, as between the Father and Chriſt; which is plain by that paſſage of His prayer in the 17 John, ver. 21. That they all may be One (How one?) as thou Father art in Me and I in Thee, That they may be One in Ʋs. They are ſo near to Him, that they are ſaid to be Of His fleſh and of His bones, Eph. 5. 30. as alſo, That they are one Spirit, i. e. 1 Cor. 6. 17.He and They are Actuated by the ſame Spirit, as the head and members of the ſame Body are by One Soul. And this is the true reaſon why Believers cannot walk after the fleſh, becauſe The Spirit of life which is in Chriſt Ieſus (as their root) rules in them, Rom. 8. 2.Jude ver. 2. They are preſerved in Chriſt as Noah was in the Ark; or as branches in their own ſtock: For, this difference is ſtill to be Noted, That Believers have not this life in themſelves, as Chriſt hath; but they have it in him, which is better for them than if in their own keeping: For, being in Him as in a Root, It is natural to Him to Communicate, and as natural to them (by virtue of the Divine Nature communicated to them) to Derive from Him: And ſo, Becauſe (and whiles) He lives, Joh. 14. 19. 1Joh 5. 12.They ſhall live alſo: He that hath the Son, hath life: and they have it in a way of Right; as he that is poſſeſt of the ſoil, has right to all that grows upon it. All that is Chriſt's is theirs; There is a happy Commutation of Intereſts; Their debts with the conſequences thereof are devolv'd upon Him; and all that was His in imputed to them. And His care of them is ſuch, that He will be able to ſay at the latter day, Of All that Thou haſt given Me I have loſt nothing; Joh. 18. 9. 17. 12.Jer. 22. 24.He will not leave an hoof behind: The ſignet on his right hand (Men of ſhineing outſides) may poſſibly be plucked thence; but the leaſt joint of His finger ſhall not. No man (who is Compos mentis) will ſuffer the meaneſt part of himſelf to Gangrene and periſh, if it be in his power to help it: How then ſhould our Lord Chriſt?Eph. 5. 25. Who beſides the naturall affection He hath to thoſe of His own Body, hath alſo received a Commandment from the Father,Joh. 6. 40. to keep them ſafe: and is perfectly qualified, in all reſpects, to make it good. On this account,Col. 2. 10. as well as others, they are complete in Him. Believers are ſo One with Chriſt, that whatſoever he did, they are ſaid to doe it with Him;verſ. 11. Rom. 6. 6.ver. 4. & 5.Eph. 4. v. 8.Chap. 2. 6.Gal. 2▪ 20.Circumciſed with Him; Crucified with Him; Buried with Him; Roſe with Him; Aſcended with him; And they ſit in Heaven with him. It is no more poſſible for Believers to miſcrary finally, than for Chriſt Himſelf to be held under the power of the grave; There is one law for them both: It's a faithfull ſaying,2 Tim. 2. 11. If we be dead with Him, Rom. 8. 17. Chap 6. 9.we ſhall alſo live with him; If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall be glorified together. As Chriſt once raiſed, dyes no more; ſo ſhall None of thoſe raiſed with Him, return any more to corruption: For, He gave himſelf for his Church; not onelyonly to ſanctifie and cleanſe it for once, Acts 13. 34.Eph. 5. 25. 27.but Once for All; and to preſent it without ſpot or wrinkle at the laſt day: By that one offering, He perfected for ever them that are ſanctified. Heb. 10. 14.Theſe are thoſe ſure mercies of David, recorded in the 55th. of Iſaiah, and explained in that 13th of the Acts.
It is not for Nothing, that our bleſſed Lord and Saviour ſo often repeats that good word and promiſe touching Believers, in John 6. v. 39, 40, 44, 54; (which ſurely He did, as being greatly pleaſed with the thoughts of it) I will raiſe him up at the laſt day: and, I will raiſe him up at the laſt day,—q. d. I will be with him unto the end of the world, and ſee him ſafe in Heaven: And this may be ſaid of it, (as by Joſeph to Pharaoh) The thing is doubled, Gen. 41. 32.becauſe it is eſtabliſhed of God, and He will bring it to paſs.
V. Another Argument for Believers invincible Perſeverance,Arg. V. is, That all the Attributes of God doe ſtand ingaged for it: Virtue invincible having undertaken it, Needs muſt it ſucceed.
1. Power: In Jer. 32. 27, God's Sovereign Power over all fleſh is laid-down as the ground of their faith, touching their Return from Captivity, and His giving them a new heart; and for His ſo keeping them, that they ſhould not depart from Him any more, Jer. 32. 7. with ver. 36 to 41.as they had done. So, when He would ſtrengthen His fainting People, He ſtyles Himſelf, The Everlaſting God, The Lord, The Creator of the ends of the Earth, Iſa. 40. 28.who fainteth not, Neither is weary: And in Ch. 62. 8, His Right hand, and the Arm of His ſtrength, are engaged by an Oath.
In the 2 Tim. 1. 12, The Apoſtle argues the certainty of his ſalvation from the Power of God; (which he could not have done with any good Reaſon or Comfort, had not that Power been ingaged for it): I am not aſhamed—For I know Whom I have believed; and that He is [able] to keep That I have committed to Him, againſt that day: And he gives the like Counſel to others, where he points at the [Power] of God, 2 Cor. 9. 8.to make all Grace abound in them: and in Rom. 11, The Calling of the Jews, and grafting them into Chriſt,Rom. 11. 23. is laid on the ſame Rock; For, God is [able] to Graft them in agen.Col. 1. 11.
In Epheſ. 6, He tells them what kind of enemies they were to wreſtle with;Eph. 6. 12. viz. Principalities, and Powers, and ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places: (A ſort of Adverſaries too potent for ſpirits houſed in Clay:) But, to harneſs them fitly for the battel, he ſhews them a Power that is higher than thoſe; and (indeed) as much above them, and more, than they above us: And with This he would have them to Inveſt themſelves,Eph. 6. 10. Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the Power of His might: This is an Armour compleat; aptly term'd The [whole] Armour of God; ver. 11.and in this ſtrong Tower Believers are ſafe.
So likewiſe in Eph. 1.Eph. 1. 18. To confirm them touching the hope of his Calling, he brings-in The Mighty Power of God, even That Power by which He raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, ver. 19.and ſe…t Him at His own Right hand, ver. 20.far above all Principalities and Power, ver. 21.and putting all things under His feet: Wherein he ſets forth Chriſt as a patern of what God will doe for Believers; They ſhall be raiſed and ſet above all.2 Chr. 6. 36. And though they ſometimes fall, (as there is no Man that ſinneth not) Let it make them more Wary, but not diſcourage them:Pſ. 37. 24. For, They ſhall not be [utterly] caſt down; and this, becauſe The Lord upholdeth them with His hand. The Archers may ſhoot at them, and ſorely grieve them; Gen. 49. 23, 24yet ſhall their Bowe abide in ſtrength, and the Arms of their hands be made ſtrong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob. And well it is for us, That the Divine Power hath undertaken this difficult Work; and that the Scriptures do ſo clearly avouch it. For nothing leſs could be a Buttreſs ſufficient to ſtay our Faith upon, touching our holding-out to the End:Iſa. 40. 26. But, becauſe, He is ſtrong in Power, Not one faileth.
2. Wiſdom: This is an ability to fit and direct Things to their proper End. In matters of leſſer Concern, we find the Lord ſo laying His Work, that it cannot miſcarry: It therefore it be His good pleaſure to Ordain Men to Salvation, His Wiſdom requires, that it be in ſuch a way as is ſure to ſucceed: and that all ſorts to Impediments be ſo over-ruled, as not to interrupt, but be made ſubſervient to His great End:Luk. 14. 29. 3…. Having counted His coſt and paid if off, and alſo begun to build; it behoves His Wiſdom to ſee that His work be done, and brought to perfection: And accordingly to provide Inſtruments ſuted to His Work; ſuch as He knows Will do, and Not Over-doe, the thing intended: As the Husbandman ſorts his grain to the Nature of the ſoil,Iſa. 28. 25-28. and threſhing inſtruments to the capacity of his grain; he uſes not a wheel is needfull:Chap. 27. 8. Pſal. 37. 23. ſo, He ſtayeth His Rough winde in the day of the Eaſt-winde. He doth not onelyonly deſign the End of a Man's journey, but every ſtep in it is of His ordering; Job. 31. 4.The Lord preſerveth His going-out, and his coming-in. Pſ. 121. 8.In Iſa. 26. 7. The Lord is ſaid, To weight the path of the Juſt: which (ſurely) is meant, Not onelyonly of His obſerving their works, and diſpenſing to them accordingly; but, as preponderating What they are to doe, and what is requiſite for their doing of it; and ſo, apportioning their ſtrength and aſſiſtance anſwerably: As at making the World, He weighed the Mountains in ſcales, and the hills in a ballance; that its parts might be of equal weight: Or, as one that's to Run in a Race, and muſt carry Weights about him; it will be his wiſdom to have them evenly poiz'd: So, the Lord ſets one thing againſt another, in our ſouls Concernments. In Rom. 16, Paul brings-in this Wiſdom of God,Rom. 16. 25. 27 (as well as His Power) to help their Faith, touching their eſtabliſhment: and the Apoſtle Jude, in the cloſe of his Epiſtle, gives Glory to God, [as the OnelyOnly Wiſe God] upon the account of His keeping them from falling; Jude, v. 24, 25.and preſenting them faultleſs before the preſence of His Glory.
3. Honour: The concernment of God's honour, is alſo an important Argument for proof of this Doctrine: The Lord's manner of dealing with His People of old, and the Reaſon of it, is an Inſtance above Contradiction. The Promiſe of giving them Canaan, was not more Abſolute than the Promiſe of Salvation to Believers; Nor was it leſs clog'd with Conditions, Threatnings, and Cautions, (which were afterwards added:) But, the promiſe being once made abſolute, Gen. 15. 18.[To thy ſeed will I give this land] the Lord held Himſelf obliged in honour,Chap. 12. 7. to make it good. How often did He ſeem to be pouring out His wrath to deſtroy them? Firſt in Egypt, Then in the Wilderneſs: (as appears by Ezek. 20. 8, 13, 21, 22, and 40 verſes.) And what was it that kept it off? It was the Intereſt of God's Honour; This put Him upon finding out Wayes to deliver them;Ezek. 20. 14. I wrought (ſayes He) for my Name's ſake: The Lord did (as it were) labour and work to ſuppreſs His righteous fury, incenſed by their intolerable provocations: His Name and honour were concern'd, and that held His hands; He had once made an abſolute Promiſe, which therefore muſt be made-good, tho' they made themſelves never ſo unworthy of it.
The like ye have in Iſaiah 48, They had dealt very treacherouſly, (than which, Nothing is more provoking:) But, (ſayes the Lord) For my Names ſake will I deferr mine anger, v. 9. And Agen, v. 11. For mine Own ſake, even for mine Own ſake, will I do it; For, how ſhould My Name be polluted? The Lord will over-look a Thouſand tranſgreſſions, rather than expoſe His Name and honour to Reproach, as once it was by a temporary ſuſpenſion: To Recover which, and that His Name might be ſanctified, He will bring them home agen; yea, tho' it be in the eyes of Men, a Thing impoſſible; and they themſelves doe think ſo likewiſe; For, Our hope is loſt, and we are cut off, (ſay they) Ezek. 37. 11. and Lam. 3. 18. My hope is periſhed from the Lord. Whether at home, or abroad, they ſtill cauſed His Name to be prophaned: And for this His Holy Name, He had pitty on them, Ezek. 36. 20, 21. For, if He ſhould have caſt them off for ever, It would have been ſaid, Either That He did not foreſee how unworthy a people they would be; Or, He was not able to keep them in their own Land; Or to bring them back agen: Or els, That He was Changeable in His Purpoſes, and not true to His word, &c. ſome reflexion or other they would caſt upon Him, which He could not bear. All which, & much more of like kinde, is applicable to Belivers, with reſpect to their Perſeverance.
4. Juſtice, or Righteouſneſs; There can hardly be found a firmer ſupport, or more plenary conſolation to Believers, than That the Juſtice of God is engaged to ſave them; For, The Righteous Lord will doe no iniquity. He would not Juſtify (No, Not) His very Elect, but in a way conſiſtent with His Righteouſneſs: For which cauſe, He ſet-forth Chriſt a Propitiation for ſin. Surely then, having received the Attonement, He will not expoſe His Juſtice to cenſure, by leaving them, in any wiſe obnoxious to comdemnation. Salvation (Now) is their due: Rom. …. 1, 7.His Grace hath made it ſo, By both giving, and accepting ſuch a price for it as engageth Righteouſneſs it ſelf to ſave them: For, Who ſhall eondemn, ver. 33. 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8.ſince 'tis Chriſt that dy'd? It is as Righteous a thing with God, To give Reſt to His People, as tribulation to thoſe that trouble them: Paul therefore builds his expectation of the Crown, upon this Attribute as well as any other; Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 8.which the Lord the [Righteous] Judge ſhall give me at that day. Yea, this Righteouſneſs of God ſecures to them, Their holding out, To finiſh their Courſe, andto keep the Faith; as well as the Reward when their work is done. God is not unrighteous to forget His [Peoples] labour of love; Much leſs [Chriſt's.] This gave the Apoſtle to be perſwaded better things of thoſe he writes to, than to be ſubject to Falling-away: Heb. 6. 9, 10.The blood of the Everlaſting Covenant is engaged to make them perfect in every good work, ch. 13. 20, 21.to doe His will: Yea, They ſhall bring forth fruit in their old age; Pſ. 92. 14, 15.and this, To declare that the Lord is Ʋpright, and no [Ʋnrighteouſneſs] is in Him.
5. The Faithfulneſs (or Truth) of God, is alſo concern'd in the final Perſeverance of Believers: For, having drawn them from all Created bottoms, to a total Relyance on Himſelf; He cannot but give them That they have truſted Him for: The Lord will not be to His people as that broken ſtaff Egypt was to the Jews, to fail them at their greateſt Need; which is, when they are loſt, driven away, broken, and ſick, and (perhaps) have no mind to Return; as Ephraim, who went on frowardly: Then is the fit time for the Faithfulneſs of God to diſcover it ſelf,Iſa. 57. 17. 18. by ſeeking them out,Ezek. 34. 16. Bringing them back, Binding them up, Healing and Comforting them. To heal their backſlidings, as it ſhews the Freeneſs of God's love, ſo His faithfulneſs.
The Lord will not behold iniquity in Jacob: Numb. 23. 21.i. e. He will not take notice of it, ſo as to Recede from His Word: For, He could not but ſee their perverſneſs and Murmurings: for which He puniſhed them ſeverely; and ſometimes made as if He would diſherite them: but ſtill He Remembred His Covenant, and that Reſtrain'd it, that He could not Caſt them off: The Lord had bleſſed, and therefore Men ſhould not Reverſe it; Neither themſelves, by their inſufferable Contumacy; nor Balaam by his Inchantments. The Lord loveth Judgement, Numb. 23. 20.(i. e. Truth and Faithfulneſs;) and therefore He forſaketh not His Saints, Pſ. 37. 28.They are preſerved for ever. The Saints are in league with God;Pſ. 50. 5. They have made a Covenant with Him by Sacrifice: And it is a league of His own propounding, by which He hath obliged Himſelf to protect them. And, tho' Men may break their Compacts, the Holy One of Iſrael will not;Numb. 23. 19. He is not Man that He ſhould lie, Pſ. 16. 1.nor the ſon of man that he ſhould Repent. David having made God His Fortreſs,Pſ. 31. 3, 4. concludes from thence, that the Name of God was engaged to lead and guide him.
Thoſe Corinthians were as lyable to temptations as other Men who fell by them: for they had ſtrong Remainders of Corruption, (as appeares by both the Epiſtles) and a ſubtil Adverſary to obſerve and draw it out: Beſides, They were highly gifted, and ſo thought themſelves above the Rank of ordinary Chriſtians; than which, nothing could more expoſe them to danger: But, notwithſtanding all theſe diſadvantages, they ſhall be kept; The Faithfulneſs of God that ſecures them,1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. and ſhall confirm them unto the End: For, God is faithful (ſayes he) by whom ye were Called: It is as if he had ſaid, God would never have Called you into the Fellowſhip of his Son, if He had not reſoved to keep you there. So agen, in Chap. 10. 13, he tells them, God will not ſuffer them to be tempted above that they are able: And he brings it in as an Inference from the ſame Propofition of The Faithfulneſs of God. He likewiſe layes the ſtreſs of his confidence for the Theſſalonians being preſerved blameleſs unto the Coming of Chriſt, upon the ſame Attribute;1 Theſ. 5. 23, 24. Faithful is He that Calleth you, who alſo will doe it: And when he would move the Hebrews to purpoſe, to hold faſt the profeſſion of their Faith without wavering,Heb. 1…. 23. he uſes the ſame Engine ſtill; Faithful is He that promiſed,
Peter, he alſo directs the Saints to Commit their Souls unto God, 1 Pet. 4. 19.in well-doing, as unto a [Faithful] Creatour. Now, the Scripture alwaies propounds to us, ſuch Attributes and Motives, as are proper to the matter in hand; and therefore, in ſtyling God (here) a [Faithful Creatour] it's as much as to ſay,2 Cor. 5. 5. He that hath wrought you for this ſelf ſame thing, is God; who is Faithful to His purpoſe, or firſt Intent of His Work; and will therefore perfect it, Notwithſtanding the fiery tryal you are to paſs under; you may therefore build upon it,1 Pet. 4. 12. and commit your ſelves to Him accordingly.
And how doth the Lord condeſcend to Men of Low degree, for the ſupport of weak Believers!2 Tim. 2. 13. If we believe not, (i. e. Tho' our faith be ſo weak and inſenſible to us, that we doubt the very being of it, yet) He abideth faithful: He will not quench the ſmoaking flax, Iſa. 42. 3.Nor ſuffer His Faithfulneſs to fail. Pſ. 89. 33. Mal. 3. 6.The Reaſon why the ſons of Jacob are not conſumed, is not from their Unchangeableneſs but God's
6. Mercy: This Attribute alſo, freely contributes to the Saints Perſeverance. Mercy (properly) reſpects Men in diſtreſs, to ſupport and bring them out, not-having of their own to help themſelves: This, none are ſo ſe…ſible of as Believers; and therefore, Them eſpecially will Mercy provide for: Hoſ. 14. 3, In thee the Fatherleſs findeth Mercy, Pſal. 59. 14. The God of my Mercy ſhall preſerve me. Mercy is the Name of God, and His Glory, Exod. 34. 7. Mercy is His Way, Pſ. 25. 10.All the paths of the Lord are Mercy: and it is His pleaſant Path, called therefore His Delight, Micah 7. 18. It pleaſeth Him above any thing: yea, He takes pleaſure in them that hope in His Mercy, Pſal 147. 11. We may ſay (in a good ſenſe) His Throne is upholden by Mercy. Prov. 20. 28.It is Mercy that makes Men to fear Him, Pſ. 130. 4. The 136 Pſalm throughout, is an Encomium of Mercy, as That which doth all for us: and this, becauſe it endures for ever. In the 138 Pſalm, the Prophet grounds his confidence touching his Perſeverance, upon this Attribute expreſſely; viz. That God would Perfect that which concerned him, becauſe His Mercy (which began the work) endureth for ever. The great Covenant is Founded in Mercy, and is therefore ſtyled The ſure Mercies of David, Iſa. 55. I ſhall not add, touching this Attribute; For, if all the Reſt be on our ſide, (and you ſee They are) the Mercy of God muſt needs be for us, ſince 'tis That (indeed) which hath enliſted and brought-in all the Reſt.
VI. The Saints Perſeverance may alſo be Argued from the Ends of their being,Arg. VI. with the Author or thoſe Ends: (This, the Scripture puts weight upon.) Their Ends are, To glorifie God, and to be glorified with Him: But, neither of theſe can be attained without Perſevering: Not the firſt, For, nothing ſo diſhonours God, as Apoſtacy: Not the latter, becauſe ſuch onelyonly as endure to the End, ſhall be ſaved. They muſt (therefore) Perſevere, Or thoſe Ends will be fruſtrate; which will not ſtand with the Author's authority.
That theſe were the ends of their Being, is evident, Iſa. 43. 21, This People have I formed for my ſelf; and v. 7. I created him for my Glory. The Apoſtle alſo is very expreſs for it, in 2 Cor. 5. where, ſpeaking of that Divine building in the Heavens, prepared for Believers; he tells us, They were wrought for that ſelf ſame thing. The manner of expreſſion is much to be remark'd: It is not barely ſaid, This End, or this thing, we were made for: but (in effect) This very thing, and nothing els, (to be ſure nothing leſs) was the very ſcope and end of our Creation, both old and new, even of all God's workmanſhip upon us. And, as evident it is, That God Himſelf is the Authour of thoſe Ends, and that therefore they cannot miſcarry. Upon this ground the Lord would have his People to found an Ʋndauntable confidence, (as well may be gather'd from His ſo frequent indigitating of it.) In Iſa. 43. He thus fortifies them againſt the ſoreſt of evils; Fear not, for [I] have Redeemed thee; [I] have called thee: and ver. 7. [I] have created him; [I] have formed him: yea [I] have made him: [I, even I the Lord] ver. 11. and Chap. 41. 10. Fear thou not, for [I] am with thee: [I] will ſtrengthen thee, [I] will help thee, yea [I] will uphold thee: The emphaſis lies in the perſon active. [I] i. e. I the Lord, (a note of infinite ſignification and ſecurity to Believers!) The Apoſtle alſo, in that 2 Cor. 5. That Believers might know themſelves invincibly ſecur'd, he points us to God, as the Great Author of thoſe important Ends, and Almighty Undertaker for their accompliſhment; He that wrought us for the ſelf ſame thing, is [God] It is as if he had ſaid, It is impoſſible we ſhould loſe the thing we were wrought for, becauſe, it is God that wrought us for it: It is not the deſignment of an Idol; that is, Of ſome Ignorant, Raſh, Fallible, or Mutable Agent; ſuch a One as may poſſibly be ſurpriſed by unlook'd-for accidents; Circumvented by a ſublimer underſtanding; Over-born by a power above him; or Recede from his purpoſe, thro' levity and fickleneſs of his nature; &c. But it is [God] who is wiſe in Heart and Mighty in ſtrength, Job 9. 4. It is He from whom all things that are, have their being, and are perfectly under His Rule and obeiſance: He had Eternity afore Him, to lay His Deſign ſurely; and accordingly He declareth the End from the beginning, and changeth not. It is therefore as impoſſible for Him either to Doe, or neglect to doe, or ſuffer to be done, any thing whereby His purpoſe might ſuffer diſappointment; as it is impoſſible That God ſhould lye. He would never have ſet-up thoſe Ends as the Sum and Upſhot of His great Deſign, if He had not Determined to ſee them made-good. And therefore (as ſayes the Apoſtle) We are alwaies confident, That when abſent from the Body, we ſhall be preſent with the Lord, ver. 6 & 8.
This is alſo further confirm'd by that compendious Promiſe, Jer. 31. 33. I will be their God, and they ſhall be my People: Every word (here) hath a peculiar emphaſis; 1. That He will be a [God] to them: 2. [Their] God: and 3. [for ever]: This [I will] imports both a fix'd Reſolution, & Time without limit. It is as if He had ſaid, Though other lords have had the Rule over you, and you have ſtill a Proneneſs to Revolt to them; It ſhall not be: I will not be Outed any more; I'l heal your backſlidings, and be your God ſtill: I'l carry it towards you and for you, as becomes a God to doe: and I will make you ſuch a People, as becometh God to own; I will not be aſhamed to be called your God, Heb. 11. 16. It would (indeed) be both a diſparagement and diſſatisfaction to God, if His People ſhould fail of that He made them for; which (certainly) cannot be, becauſe God is theirs; and if God be theirs, all things are theirs, both this World and that to come; 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23.
Laſtly,Arg. VII. For the final Perſeverance of Believers, a Principal Argument is fetch'd from the Sovereign Decree of Election. I call it Sovereign, partly Becauſe it is the higheſt Manifeſtation of God's abſolute Dominion over His Creatures, in Chooſing whom He would, and paſſing-by the Reſt: Partly alſo, becauſe all ſorts of things what ſoever are ſubjected to it, and made ſubſervient to its final accompli…hment. And this I take, for a principal Reaſon why Election is ſo frequently placed in Eternity, (or, before the Foundation of the World) viz, To ſhew, That the very Fabrick of the World, and all Occurrences therein, were ſo contrived and framed in God's Decree, as having Election for their primary ſcope and End: That this firſt Cauſe is the Supream Moderator of all intermediate Cauſes, and is it ſelf ſubject to None.
It was not any lovelineſs in Elect perſons, which moved God to love them at firſt; ſo neither ſhall their unlovely backſlidings deprive them of it, (though it may be eclips'd, by their own default, to the breaking of their bones.) The Lord Choſe them for that bleſſed Image of His Own which He would afterwards imprint upon them, and this He ſtill proſecutes through all diſpenſations.
That Elect Nation the Jews, They apoſtatized from God, and did worſe than any Other; yet, the Lord would not utterly caſt them off. In Samuel's time their wickedneſs was very great; yet, ſaith he, (to ſtay them from total apoſtacy;) The Lord will not forſake you: But, what is the ground of that his great confidence, and grand Warranty? The very ſame that now we are upon; The Lord will not forſake you, becauſe, [It hath pleaſed the Lord to make you His People:] Not becauſe they remembred their duty and returned to God; but becauſe He remembred for them His Covenant: In purſuance whereof, He long maintained their title, Notwithſtanding their often-repeated forfeitures; and when in Captivity, brought them home again. And indeed,Ezek. 16. 62, 63. Nothing ſo melts the hearts of Thoſe in Covenant with God, as the the Lord ſhould be pacified towards them after all their abominations.
The manner of God's dealings with this people, is eſpecially Inſtructive, to help the faith of the ſpiritual Election, upon all occaſions; as holding-forth the ſpecial Regard the Lord hath for them, becauſe of His Covenant: That tho' He may, and will, puniſh their iniquities, yet His loving kindnefs He will not take from them.Ezek. 36. 11. And He puts it ſtill upon His having once Choſen them, as you have it in Jeremy, ch. 41. 9, I have choſen thee, and not caſt thee away. This later Clauſe, [And not caſt thee away] ſeems added to ſhew, That His Chooſing them was an Act unrepealable: q. d. I knew aforehand What thou wouldſt Doe, and how thou wouldſt prove: and, if I had meant Ever to Caſt thee off; yea, if I had not Reſolved againſt it; I would not have Choſen thee at all; But, ſince I have, Be ſure I'l ſtand by thee, I will ſtrengthen thee, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my righteouſneſs.
It is true, The body of that Nation, for their unbelief, are now broken off: (There is a ſuſpenfion of the outward part of the Covenant:) Not, that God inteds an Utter Rejection of them;Rom. 11. 7. For, ſuch as have part in the ſpecial Election, are alwaies ſaved: And the time will come, when All Iſrael ſhall be ſaved:Rom. 11. 24. For, as touching the Election, They are beloved ſtill, tho' yet unborn. For their ſakes it was, That the dayes of tribulation were ſhortened, Matth. 24. 22. Which anſwers to Iſa. 65. 8. Deſtroy it not, there is a bleſſing in it.—The Lord will not ſo much reſpect What they have deſerved, as what His own Covenant is, concerning Abraham's Seed: Which Minding of His Covenant, is from the Ʋnchange ableneſs of His Purpoſe; And therefore he ſaith;Rom. 11. 24. They ſhall be grafted in agen. Yea, though they be driven into all lands, Scattered into Corners, Mingled with the Heathen, and become ſo like them as Not to be known aſunder; yet, being His Choſen Ones, and within His Covenant, He will bring them out of their holes, Iſa. 27. 12.and Gather them [One by One:] i. e. He will do it accurately, exactly, punctually, So as none ſhall be Wanting: Though Sifted among all Nations, Amos 9. 9.Not [One] Grain ſhall fall to the Earth.
The Reſervation mentioned in Rom. 11. is God's Omnipotent Safe-garding His Elect, when the Generality of the Nation fell to Idolatry; They would have gon All, as well as Some, 2 Theſ. 2. 11, 12, 13.had not Election held them back; as appears by comparing the 4 and 5 verſes. It is therefore ſaid to be, [According] to the Election of Grace: Which intimates, That Election was the Patern or Original, and Reſervation the Copy of it. And, That this was not a ſingle Caſe, or Reſtrained to the time that then was, is evident from Math. 24, Where our Saviour foretells, That the Subtilty of Deceivers, and temptations of the time, ſhould be ſuch; and the Torrent riſe to that height and ſtrength; That it will be a thing next to Impoſſible, Not to be Carried away by it: But, for the Elect, They are ſafeguarded from it: How? By the coming-in of the Firſt and Sovereign Cauſe; By the virtue of which, the force and influence of all thoſe ſecond Cauſes, ſhall either be prevented, or Romoved, Mitigated, Inverted,Ezek. 9. 6. ſhortened, or Over-ruled; and the faith of his Sealed Ones ſo Confirmed,Rev. 7. 3. that they ſhall not be hurt by them: Yea, (and which is more) Thoſe very things which are deſtructive to Others ſhall work life in Them. Deut. 23. 5.This turn'd Balaam's curſe into a bleſſing to Iſrael; Phil. 1. 19.and Paul's afflictions to his ſalvation: Luke 21. 28.They are to Them, a Cauſe of lifting up the head. And if it were not ſo, the Apoſtle would never exhort us To count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations: Jam. 1. 2.In the midſt whereof,1 Sam 2. 9. He keepeth the feet of His Saints. For, ſurely (ſayes God) They are my People, Children that will not lye: Iſa. 63. 8.i. e. They are of Thoſe I have Choſen and ſet apart for my ſelf; and therfore, they ſhall not fruſtrate my Purpoſe in Chooſing-them; which ſeems implyed in that word [So] So He was their Saviour: q. d. I will Save them, becauſe I have made them my People.
And for further confirmation, take Notice, That this Sovereign Decree is alwaies Regnant;Dan. 2. 44. It is that Kingdom which Ruleth over all, and ſhall never be broken. Pſal. 89. 34. My Covenant will I not break. Nor alter the thing that is gon out of my lips: and v. 18. My Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt with him. It is meant of the Covenant made with David and his houſe; Or (rather) with Chriſt and His Spiritual Seed, Of whom David was a Type. And that we might have ſtrong Conſolation, the Lord binds it with an Oath, Once (i. e. Once for all, and Once for ever; it was ſo full and perfect, that it needed no Alteration, Amendment, or Repetition) Once have I ſworn by my Holineſs, That I will not lye unto David; v. 35. And how Impoſſible it was, That this Covenant ſhould be over-ruled or broken, appears alſo in Jer. 33. 20, 21. where, ſpeaking in the Name of God, he delivers it thus; If you can break my Covenant of the Day, and my Covenant of the Night, that there ſhould not be Day and Night in their Seaſon; Then may alſo my Covenant be broken with David my Servant: (Here note by the way, That Day and Night take their turns, but ſtill it is in their Seaſon.) And David himſelf ſayes of it, That it is a Covenant Everlasting; … Sam. 23. 5.Ordered in all things and ſure: i. e. What ever might poſſibly fall-in to Interrupt it, There was that Order obſerved in the compoſition of the Covenant, & ſuch a Power layd up within it, as ſhould certainly over-run and bear-down thoſe Impediments, triumph over them all, and hold on its way; (As all the Tempeſts and tumults that may happen in this lower World, can in no wiſe Obſtruct the courſe of ſuperiour Orbs:) He therefore declares, (in high, yet humble, expreſſions) He deſired no other or better ſecurity for his Salvation. And it is not unlikely, That David and Solomon were both of them left to thoſe great backſlidings, to give a proof of the Sureneſs of this Covenant; which indeed was ſufficiently done by them, and tryed to the utmoſt: For, they both broke the Covenant, on their part; & yet the Covenant was not Null'd: No thanks to them, but to that Sovereign Grace that had laid-in Proviſion afore to prevent it, by making it Abſolute and Ʋnrepealable. Yet the Lord will not Connive at their miſcarriages; but If his Children forſake my law and break my Statutes, I will viſit their tranſgreſſions with the Rod; Pſ. 89. 31, 32.Nevertheleſs, my loving-kindneſs will I not utterly take from him; Nor ſuffer my Faithfulneſs to fail. ver. 29.It muſt be granted, There was, at times, a ſeeming to make-void this Covenant; and great complaints are made upon it: But it revives again, and joy comes in the Morning, as is evident by the Cloſe of that 89 Pſalm, Bleſſed be the Lord for evermore, Amen and Amen. Its return was the more welcom for its temporary abſence; and therefore he meets it with a double Gratulation, Amen and Amen! It was but in a litle wrath, that He hid His face from them, and that but for a Moment too; but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have Mercy on thee, Iſa. 54. 8.ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. The Mountains ſhall depart and the hills be removed: ver. 10.—But my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, Neither ſhall the Covenant of my peace be removed, ſaith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee.
In Jer. 31. 37. another Impoſſibility is inſtanced in, to ſhew the Eternal Validity of this Covenant; Thus ſaith the Lord, If heaven above can be meaſured, and the foundations of the Earth ſearched out beneath; I will alſo caſt off all the ſeed of Ifrael, for all that they have done, ſaith the Lord. The Lord Himſelf (you ſee) is both the Alpha and Omega of this great ſentence; To ſhew, That both ends of the Covenant are in His own hands.
By theſe Scriptures (with many others) it is apparent, that there ſhall be no Faileur on God's part: and if ſo, Then there ſhall be None at all; becauſe He hath taken on Himſelf the performance of the whole. Believers (therefore) ſhall invincibly be carried-on (Notwithſtanding all kind of impediments) unto the End of their Faith, the Salvation of their Souls.
Yet doth not this Doctrine go free of Contradiction: And truly, conſidering how cleer and pertinent the Scripture is for it; It ſeems to me, That if the firſt Impugners of Perſeverance had not found themſelves in a Toyl; and ſo, Neceſſitated to oppoſe it, for the maintenance of other principles they had before taken up and eſpouſed, and which would not conſiſt with this; They would never have ſet themſelves againſt it: But, Errours (like Truths, in that) doe hang on a ſtring; Or, as links in a Chayn, The firſt Mover draws the reſt after. But I truſt, thro help from Above, all the objections, that are laid againſt this Doctrine, ſhall prove a further confirmation of it, by one hand or other: The chief that I have met with, are theſe that follow.